A candidate who fails a CDL test can retake it. In California, each DMV application allows 3 attempts at the knowledge tests and 3 total attempts at the skills test. After the third failed attempt, the application is no longer valid, and the candidate has to reapply and pay the application fee again.
Failing once is common, and it does not erase the parts a candidate already passed. The bigger risks are running out of attempts or letting a permit lapse before retesting.
Key Takeaways
- A failed CDL test can be retaken. States set their own limits on attempts, wait times, and fees.
- California allows 3 knowledge test attempts and 3 total skills test attempts on a single application.
- California has no waiting period to retake a knowledge test or the basic control skills test.
- A California basic control or road test retest costs $33. Retaking the vehicle inspection on the same application costs nothing extra.
- Passed skills test segments only count during the first 180 days of a California commercial learner’s permit (CLP).
How CDL Retests Work Under Federal Rules
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets the basic structure of every CDL exam. A candidate takes the knowledge tests first, then a three-part skills test: the vehicle inspection, the basic control skills test, and the road test. Each part has to be passed in order.
Federal rules also require a candidate to hold a commercial learner’s permit for at least 14 days before taking the skills test. A first-time Class A or Class B candidate must also finish Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) before testing.
FMCSA does not set a national limit on retests. Each state decides how many attempts a candidate gets, how long the candidate waits between tries, and what a retest costs. Those rules depend on the state where the candidate is getting a CDL.
California CDL Retest Rules
California CDL requirements follow the federal test structure and add their own retest rules. The California Commercial Driver Handbook lists them.
| If a candidate fails… | What happens in California |
|---|---|
| A knowledge test | The candidate can retake it with no waiting period. Each application allows 3 attempts. |
| The vehicle inspection | The basic control and road tests are postponed. Retaking the inspection on the same application has no extra fee. |
| The basic control skills test | The candidate can retest with no waiting period. A $33 retest fee applies. |
| The road test | A $33 retest fee applies to each additional road test. |
| Any skills test segment | It counts as 1 of the 3 total skills attempts on the application. |
The shared skills limit catches many candidates off guard. California counts every failed segment toward one limit of 3. For example, failing the vehicle inspection once, basic control once, and the road test once uses all 3 attempts. A candidate testing in two vehicle types, such as a Class A truck and a passenger vehicle, gets 3 skills attempts for each.
Timing matters too. The original Class A or Class B application fee is $73 and is good for 12 months. A California CLP is valid for 180 days and can be renewed for another 180 days, as long as it stays within 1 year of the application date. Passed skills segments only count during the first 180 days. If the CLP is renewed, the candidate has to retake every skills segment, even ones already passed.
California DMV fees can change each January 1. Candidates should confirm current amounts with the DMV before a retest.
Why Candidates Fail and What to Practice
A failed attempt shows a candidate exactly which part of the test needs work. That makes the next attempt more focused than the first. Most mistakes fall into a few patterns.
Vehicle Inspection
In California, a failed pre-trip vehicle inspection ends the test before the candidate drives. Common mistakes include reciting memorized lines without pointing to or touching each part, and skipping steps in the air brake check. Candidates testing for a Class A CDL also need to inspect the coupling system.
Basic Control Skills
Examiners score encroachments, pull-ups, looks, and final position. Too many errors in one exercise can fail the test. Candidates should practice each maneuver an examiner may choose:
- Straight-line backing
- Offset backing, right and left
- Alley docking
- Parallel parking, driver side and conventional
Road Test
The road test checks safe habits in live traffic. Examiners watch mirror checks, following distance, lane changes, turns, and railroad crossings over the whole route. Smooth starts, stops, and shifting matter as much as any single maneuver.
How Training Helps on the Next Attempt
With only 3 skills attempts per application, each retest counts. Practice time between attempts is the most direct way to fix the problem that caused the failure.
United Truck Driving School offers a CDL Refresher Course for drivers who want more time behind the wheel. Students in the Class A CDL and Class B CDL programs train in the school’s trucks, so they already know the mirrors, blind spots, and handling of the vehicle they test in. Before enrolling, students can compare how long CDL training takes for each program.
Candidates with questions about retest prep can contact the San Diego or Riverside campus, or visit the admissions page.
FAQs
Can a candidate use notes during the California vehicle inspection test?
No. The only testing aid allowed is the vehicle inspection guide in Section 11 of the California Commercial Driver Handbook, and using anything else marks the test as a failure.
Will a phone or dash cam in the truck cause a failed test?
Yes, it can. Phones and other electronic devices are not allowed during the skills test, and a dash cam must be turned off or blocked during the road test.
What happens if someone at the test site gives hand signals?
The examiner stops the test and marks it as a failure. People waiting nearby are not allowed to signal or shout instructions to the candidate.
Can tape or markings on the truck fail a candidate?
Yes. If the examiner finds writing, tape, or other marks meant to help with the inspection or backing exercises, the test ends and counts as a failure.
Can a candidate bring an interpreter to the California skills test?
No. All California CDL skills tests are given in English, and interpreters are not allowed.
What happens if a candidate fails the air brakes knowledge test?
The candidate can still earn a CDL, but it will carry an “L” restriction. That restriction bars the driver from operating any commercial vehicle with air brakes.
Do Class A and passenger vehicle skills tests share the same 3 attempts?
No. California gives a candidate 3 skills test attempts for the Class A vehicle and a separate 3 attempts for the passenger transport vehicle.
